Many of us worry about the damaging effects the food we eat might have on our waist lines and overall health, and we sometimes even worry about the damaging effects spilling certain foods and drink on the pristine white table cloth or new white dress might cause. But rarely do we think about the damaging effects some foods and drink can cause to our teeth.
Health on Female First
As a rule of thumb, anything that stains when spilled onto a white table cloth will do the same to the pearly whites in your mouth. The more intense in colour the food or drink that goes into your mouth, the more potential there is for staining.
The experts at Luster Pro Light have compiled a list of the top five culprits that will almost definitely cause staining to your teeth!
Wine
As well as the rich dark ruby red colouring of red wine, your usual red plonk also contains tannins which will dry out the mouth making the teeth sticky and worsen stains.
Even white wine drinkers are not safe! As white wine is clear in colour, it is an unlikely suspect, but unfortunately the bad news is the acid in white wine allows staining from other foods and drink to penetrate more deeply!
Berries
Berries such as blueberries, blackberries, cherries and other brightly coloured fruits can stain teeth! Opt for fruits that don't stain your hands when handling them. Fruit such as apples, green grapes and bananas are a good start and strawberries naturally whiten teeth, but careful of the natural acidity in fruit. Acidity in some foods and beverages, including some that are not brightly coloured, promote staining by eroding the dental enamel, temporarily softening teeth and making it easier for chromogens to latch on.
Tea and Coffee
Those stubborn brown stains that accumulate on the inside of a coffee mug will give you some ideas of how drinking coffee will stain teeth overtime. Coffee stains appear to be even more persistent than tobacco stains, in fact coffee-stained teeth are more resistant to tooth brushing and more likely to become discoloured again.
Tea may seem like coffee's gentler, kinder cousin, but that's not necessarily the case when your teeth are involved. Some black tea may even stain your teeth more than coffee. Like red wine, black tea tends to have a high tannin content, which promotes staining.
While teas such as green tea, white tea and herbal tea are less rich in tannins and less likely to discolour your teeth, there is still a drawback as herbal tea has been found to erode dental enamel substantially more than black tea!
Hard boiled sweets
There is no escaping it! Those hard coated sweets and candy that turn your tongue bright colours, will have the same effect on your teeth too!
Tobacco
We all know smoking is bad for our health for many reasons, well another one to add to the list of reasons not to smoke, it that it will stain teeth! Due to the nicotine and tar contained in the tobacco, smoking can turn your teeth yellow in a very short period of time. Heavy smokers often complain their teeth are almost brown after a few years of smoking.
If you find that it is difficult to avoid any of the above, there is an affordable and safe solution to achieving those bright whites with Luster Pro Light (£49.99) from Boots and boots.com.
The blue light technology is the same that dentists use, but in a compact portable device you can use at home for cheaper.
First, apply the whitening solution which gently works on teeth to maximize whitening results. Next, apply the activator whitening gel which lifts surface and deep stains with the super-oxygenating power of active Chlorine Dioxide and Sodium Chlorite (never peroxide). Then use the dual-action whitening light which will accelerate the reaction of the whitening solution with the activator whitening gel for faster, more effective whitening.
Try the rapid schedule for results in just 30 minutes - 10, two minute treatments a day for two days. Or try a more flexible schedule over a weekend, weekday or a full week.
To help maintain your brighter, whiter smile use Luster NOW! Instant Whitening Toothpaste (£11.99).
Tagged in Teeth